Restaurant's New Rule: Give Up Cell Phone, Receive Discount

Have you ever sat down to dinner only to find that your dining partners are glued to their cell phones the entire meal? Los Angeles restaurant Eva is trying to remedy that problem by baiting customers to give up their phones in exchange for a cheaper bill.

According to KCPP, Southern California Public Radio, Eva restaurant is giving diners a monetary reason to turn off their cell phones. Owner and chef Mark Gold is giving customers 5 percent off of their bills if they agree to turn off and give up their phones for the entirety of the meal.

Gold said that the reasoning behind the deal doesn't stem from disruptions in the restaurant. He stated, "it's about two people sitting together and just connecting, without the distraction of a phone and we're trying to create an ambience where you come in and really enjoy the experience and the good and the company."

While saving money on food seems to be a pretty good reason to turn off a cell phone, Gold said that a little less than half of customers are agreeing to the deal. Apparently, many are willing to pay full price to keep their cell phones attached to their person.

Gold's deal is similar to a restaurant game that became trendy earlier this year called phone stacking. Friends dining together at a restaurant put their phones in the middle of the table and the first person to touch his or her phone picks up the bill for the whole group.

Would you check your cell phone at the door for a 5 percent discount? Can you make it through a meal without looking at your phone?